MySpace Mom Trial: To Be or Not to Be?

Federal District Judge George Wu has shown an easy ability to reference films and TV shows during the trial of Lori Drew. Maybe, then, he's familiar with Laurence Olivier's famous prologue to his film version of Hamlet: "This is the story of a man who could not make up his mind." The line is especially apt for Wu, who's been taking his time ruling on a motion to dismiss the case by Drew's lawyer, Dean Steward, for lack of evidence. Such motions are fairly reflexive: A trial's prosecution rests its case and the defense attorney moves for dismissal, claiming the D.A. or U.S. Attorney hasn't proven his or her case. It happens every day, with the vast majority of motions being waved away by a judge who tells the defense lawyer to get on with presenting his side of the case.